High tension fuse construction



Apzvii 29 1941, L. c. HART men TENSION FUSE cous'mucnon Filed March 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N NTOR.

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HIGH TENSION FUSE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 50, 1939 2 SheetsSHeet 2 7 INVENTOR. BY 55758 C? filmer ATTORNE Patented Apr. 29, 1941 HIGH TENSION FUSE CONSTRUCTION Lester- C. Hart, Cleveland,

Ohio, assignor to Hi- Voltage Equipment Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March so, 1939, Serial No. 264,999

10 Claims.

This invention relates to fuses for electrical circuits, and more particularly to fuses for hightension circuits.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a construction which not only provides a fusible link to interrupt the circuit, when an overload occurs, but which will also embody a disconnecting switch for automatically providing a long air gap between the terminals.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse which operates on the explosion principle of my prior Patent 1,605,543, dated November 2, 1926, and is so constructed that the parts which carry the fuse link may be readily and conveniently removed by means of a hook stick for the purpose of replacing the fuse link and then resetting the mechanism of the fuse in its operating condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a high-tension fuse which will not only embody the features above referred to, but will also embody means for automatically withdrawing the unfused portion of the fuse link from the fuse tube and throw it clear of the entire mechanism.

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus em- 3% bodying my invention, certain parts being shown in section. p v

Fig. 2 is an enlargement of a fragment of Fig. l and showing the parts that are mounted on the open end of the fuse tube.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, as viewed from the right of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlargement of a fragment of Fig. 1 and shows the mechanism that is mounted on the right hand terminal.

Fig. 5 is an elevationof the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, as seen from the right.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of a fragment of Fig. l and shows the mechanism that is mounted on the left hand terminal.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, as seen from the right, and 1 Fig. 8 is a detail showing the sleeve in which the fuse tube is mounted, certain parts being broken away to illustrate the connection between the fuse link and the sleeve.

Referring to the drawings, IE! and II indicate high-voltage insulators that are mounted on any suitable support l2. In the normal position of the apparatus when in use the insulators l0 and H are arranged horizontally with the insulator I 0 above the insulator II. On the insulator to there is a terminal member l3 having a laterally extending bracket 14 to which a transmission line may be connected in any suitable manner. The terminal member l3 comprises the spaced upright walls I5 and 16 which are slotted as indicated at H, these slots being inclined, as shown in Fig. 6 and being parallel to form ways. A tube of insulating material I8 is mounted in a metal sleeve l9 which is positioned between the walls l5 and I6, as shown in Fig. '7 and provided with pairs of trunnions 20 on opposite sides, these trunnions having rollers 2| which are adapted to run in the slots H, as shown in Fig. 6. The outer end of the sleeve l9 carries a plug 22 which has a screw-threaded connection with the sleeve and, within the sleeve has an arm or lug 23 to which the fuse link 24 is connected by means of the screw 25 (see Fig. 8). The fuse link 24 has a fusible section 26 within the sleeve IS.

A saddle-shaped latch member 26 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 19, as shown at 21 and has lugs 28 that are adapted to engage with notches 29 in the walls 15 and I6, as shown in Fig. 6. A compression spring 29' is arranged beneath the latch member 26 and serves to hold the lugs 28 in engagement with the notches 29. A lever 30 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve It, as shown at 3|, andhas a ring 32 at its upper end adapted to receive the hook of a hook stick. The lever 30 has a lug or cam 33 which engages with the top of the latch member 26 so that, by moving the upper end of the lever 30 to the left, in Fig; 6, the latch member may be depressed to disengage the lugs 28 from the notches 29 and thereby permit the sleeve, with the tube IE, to be withdrawn and completely removed from the terminal member I3. The lever 30 is also provided with a lug 30' which is adapted to engage with the sleeve l9 and limit the swinging movement of the lever 30 toward the right, as will be seen from Fig. 6.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the ends of the slot I! are flared, as shown at 34 and 35, to facilitate the entrance of the rollers 2| into the slots when it is desired to position the sleeve is between the walls l5 and I6. Straps 3B are provided on the walls l5 and IE to reenforce them against the weakening effect of the slots ll. The straps 36 are secured by means of bolts 31.

A bridge 38 extends across the interior of the terminal member l3 and connects the walls l5 and 16. A spring contact finger 39 is mounted on the bridge 38 and carries a contact 40, at its upper end which is pressed against a complementary surface on the underside of the sleeve l9 to form a good electrical connection between the sleeve l9 and the terminal member 3.

Mounted on the insulator H is a terminal member 4| having a laterally extending bracket 42 to which a transmission line may be connected in any suitable manner. The terminal member 4| has a pair of upright lugs 43 and 44 which carry a pivot pin 45. A bifurcated arm 46 has one end mounted on the pivot pin 45 and carries a pivot pin 41 adjacent its upper end on which an arm 46 is mounted. A double torsion spring 49 is arranged on the pivot pin 45 with the loop 50 in engagement with the terminal member 4| and the opposite ends 5| in engagement with the bridge 52 at the lower end of the arm 46, so that the spring 50 exerts a force on the arm 46' normally tending to swing it toward the left in Fig.

4. An extension 46' on the arm 46 limits the movement of the arm 46 toward the left in Fig. 4, by engagement with the lug 4| on the member 4|.

A double torsion spring 53 is arranged on the pivot pin 41 with the central loop 54 in engagement with the bridge 55 at the upper end of the arm 46. The opposite ends 56 of the spring 53 engage with the bridge 51 of the arm 48, so that the spring 53 exerts a force on the arm 46 tending to swing it from the full line positionin Fig.

4 to the dotted line position' 'At the upper end of the arm 48 there are lugs 58 which form a saddle adapted to receive the hook of 'a hook stick,

for the purpose of swinging the arm 48 from the dotted line position iri Fig. 4 'to the full line position.

A fiat flexible conductor 59 has its upperiend secured to the arm 48, its middle portion secured to the bridge 60 on the arm 46, as indicated at 6| and its lower end secured to the terminal member 1' 4|, as indicated at 62, thereby forming a good electrical connection between the arm 48 and the terminal member 4 I. Two flexible conductor rods 63 are mounted in the ears 64 on the arm 48 and secured by means of set screws 65 so that the i.

rods 63 serve as extensions of the arm 48.

The arm 46 has an extension 66 provided with an opening 61 to receive the hook of a hook stick', for the purpose of actuating the arm. The terminal member 4| has a lug 68 on its side which cooperates with the bridge 60 of the arm 46 to form a stop and limit the swinging movement of the' arm 46 to the right in Fig. 4. It will also be noted that the swinging movement of the arm 48, to the right in Fig. 4, is limited to the dotted line position shown by the engagement of the'arm 4'8 with the bridge 55 on the arm 46. 1

Mounted on the open end of the tube I8 is the hub 69 of a bracket 10, the hub being clamped to the tube l8 by means of the bolt 1|. It will be noted that the outer end of the bracket 10 is turned laterally into a substantially hook-like form and carries at its end a conical anchor pin or post 12 on which the looped end of the fuse link 24 is secured. Extending from th outer end of the bracket 10 are the lugs 13 and 14 which carry a pivot pin 15 on which an arm 86 is mounted, this arm comprising a pair of blades 16 which are spaced apart by the spacers 11. Arms 18 are secured on the outer sides of the blades 16 and are provided with cam-like portions 19 at their upper ends, the arms 18 being secured to the blades 16 by the cap screws and the portions 19 being provided with recesses to receive the ends of the pivot pins 15.

The outer end of the bracket 70 is provided on its opposite sides with wing-like extensions 8| which serve as abutments for the upper ends of the rods 63, and these rods, when in engagement with the bracket 10, are positioned in notches 82.

A double torsional spring 83 is arranged on the pivot pin 15 with its central loop 84 in engagement with the bracket 10 and its opposite ends 85 in engagement with the upper spacer 11 so that the spring 83 exerts a force which tends to swing the arm 86 (Fig. 2) from the full line position to the dotted line position. It will be noted that the fuse link 24 engages with the spacer 11 of the arm 86 and normally holds the arm in the full line position shown in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the apparatus the normal position of the parts is as shown in Fig. l, in full lines. When the transmission line is subjected to an overload of suificient extent to fuse the fusible section 26 of the link 24, the are thus formed creates an explosive pressure which tends to blow the link out of the tube I8. The link being thus released permits the spring 83 to swing the arm 86 toward the dotted line position in Fig. 2 and thishas the eifect of casting the end of the link off the anchor pin 12 and entirely away from the apparatus. The actuation of the arm 86 causes the cams 19 to push the upper ends of the rod 63 out of the notches 82, thereby releasing the engagement of the rods 63 with the bracket 13 and permitting the spring 53 to swing the arm 48, with the rods 63 to the dotted line position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When the arm 48 engages with the bridge 55 on the arm 46 the blow is cushioned by a downward movement of the arm 46 from the position shown in Fig. 4 against the tension of the spring 49, thereby relieving the shock which would otherwise result from the abrupt stoppage of the swinging movement of the arm 48.

When the mechanism has operated, as above described, it is necessary to replace the fuse link and then reset the various parts of the apparatus in their normal operating position. It will be noted that the outer end of the fuse tube |8 and the mechanism carried thereby are entirely free. An operator then inserts the hook of a hook stick in the ring 32 and by moving the lever 30 to the left, in Fig. 6, releases the lugs 28 from the notch es 29 which permits him to withdraw the sleeve l9 and the fuse tube and all of the parts carried thereby from the terminal member l3. The operator then having the fuse tube I8 and its associated parts on the ground may conveniently replace the fuse link 24 and reset the arm 86 in the full line position shown in Fig. 2. By means of the hook stick the operator may then replace the sleeve |9 in the terminal member l3, and when the lugs 28 reach the notches 29 they will automatically enter the notches and lock the parts in their normal position. The operator may then engage the hook stick with the saddle formed by the lugs 58 and swing the rods 63 from the dotted line position in Fig. 1 into engagement with the notches 82. Because of the position of the cams 19, when the arm 86 is set as shown in Fig. 2, the rods 63 will be permitted to drop into the notches 82 when the rods strike the wings 8!, which act as stops.

When it is desired to use the apparatus as a switch for opening the transmission line, the operator connects the hook of a hook stick with the extension 66 on the arm 46 and by pulling down swings the arm 46 on its pivot 45 against the tension of the spring 49 and thereby withdraws the upperends of the rods 63 from the notches 82 and permitting the spring 52 to swing the arm 48 and the rods 63 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1.

While I have illustrated and described what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that various changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube, a post on said bracket, a fuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the last-mentioned terminal member, said link extending from the open end of said tube and being loosely attached to said post, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said link at a point between the open end of said tube and the connection of the link with said post, means normally exerting a force on said arm which tends to swing the arm away from the open end of said tube, and means forming an electrical connection between said bracket and the other of said terminalmembers.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted on the. open end of said tube, a post on said bracket, afuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the last-mentioned terminal member, said link extending from theopen end of said tube and being loosely attached to said post, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said link at a point between the open end of said tube and the connection of the link with said post, means normally exerting a force on said arm which tends to swing the arm away from the open end of said tube, means forming an electrical connection between said bracket and the other of said terminal members, and means for breaking the last mentioned connection upon the actuation of said arm by said force.

3. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted :on the open end of said tube, a post on said bracket, a fuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the last-mentioned terminal member, said link extending from the open end of said tube and being loosely attached to said post, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said link at a point between the open end of said tube and the connection of the link with said post, means normally exerting a force on said arm which tends to swing the arm away from the open end of said tube, means k forming an electrical connection between said bracket and the other of said terminal members, and means actuated by said arm for breaking the last mentioned connection.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combinati-on of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube, a fuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the lastmention-ed terminal member, said link extending from the open end of said tube and being attached to said bracket, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said link at a point between the open end of said tube and the connection of the link with said bracket, means normally exerting a force on said arm which tends to swing the arm away from the open end of said tube, an arm pivotally supported on the other of said terminal members and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with said bracket, means normally exerting a force on the last mentioned arm which tends to swing the arm out of engagement with said bracket, and means actuated by the first mentioned arm for releasing the engagement of the second mentioned arm with said bracket.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube, a fuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the last-mentioned terminal member, said link extending from the open end of said tube and being 3 attached to said bracket, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said link at a point between the open end of said tube and the connection of the link with said bracket, means normally exerting a force on said arm which tends to swing the arm away from the open end of said tube, a second arm pivotally mounted on the other of said terminal members, a spring normally tending to swing said second arm toward said bracket, a stop for limiting the movement of said second arm toward said bracket, a third arm pivotally mounted on said second arm and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with said bracket, a spring normally tending to swing said third arm away from said bracket, and means actuated by the first mentioned arm for releasing the engagement of said third arm with said bracket.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube, a fuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the last-mentioned terminal member, said link extending from the open end of said tube and being attached to said bracket, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said link at a point between the open end of said tube and the connection of the link with said bracket, means normally exerting a force on said arm which tends to swing the arm away from the open end of said tube, a second arm pivotally mounted on the other of said terminal members, a spring normally tending to swing said second arm toward said bracket, a stop for limiting the movement of said second arm toward said bracket, a third arm pivotally mounted on said second arm and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with said bracket, said third arm comprising a pair of flexible rods for engaging said bracket, said-bracket having means cooperating with said rods to hold the rods in engagement with said bracket, and means actuated by the first mentioned arm for releasing the engagement of said rods with said bracket.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, one of said members comprising a pair of spaced walls with oppositely arranged parallel ways, a tube of insulating material having one end open and its other end mounted in a metal sleeve having means cooperating with said ways to support the sleeve between said walls, releasable latching means for retaining said sleeve in position relative to said walls, a lever pivotally mounted on said sleeve and cooperating with said latching means to release the same and adapted to be used as a handle for removing said sleeve and said tube from said walls, a fuse link extending through said tube and having one end connected with said sleeve, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube and having anchoring means for the other end of said fuse link, an arm pivotally mounted on the other of said terminal members and engageable with said bracket, a spring cooperating with said arm and adapted to swing the same away from said bracket, and means for automatically releasing said arm from engagement with said bracket upon the fusing of said link.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, one of said members comprising a pair of spaced walls with oppositely arranged parallel slots therein, a tube of insulating material having one end open and its other end mounted in a metal sleeve, said sleeve having means projecting from opposite sides thereof for engagement with said slots to support the sleeve between said walls, releasable latching means for retaining said sleeve in position relative to said walls, a lever mounted on said sleeve and having a lug adapted to engage said latching means to release the same and also adapted to be used as a handle for removing said sleeve and said tube from said walls, a fuse link extending through said tube and having one end connected with said sleeve, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube and having anchoring means for the other end of said fuse link, an arm pivotally mounted on the other of said terminal members and engageable with said bracket,

a spring cooperating with said arm and adapted to swing the same away from said bracket, and means for automatically releasing said arm from engagement with said bracket upon the fusing 01 said link.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, one of said members having ways, a tube of insulating material having one end open and its other end mounted in a metal sleeve provided with means cooperating with said ways so as to support the sleeve, releasable latching means for retaining said sleeve in its operative position on said last mentioned terminal member, a lever pivotally mounted on said sleeve and cooperating with said latching means to release the same and also adapted to be used as a handle for removing said sleeve and said tube from the terminal member on which it is supported, a fuse link extending through said tube and having one end connected with said sleeve, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube and having anchoring means for the other, end of said fuse link, an arm pivotally mounted .on the other of said terminal members and engageable with said bracket, spring means adapted to swing said arm away from said bracket, and means for automatically releasing said arm from engagement with said bracket upon the fusing of said link.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of terminal members, a tube closed at one end and open at the other and having its closed end mounted on one of said terminal members, a bracket mounted on the open end of said tube, a post on said bracket, a fuse link extending through said tube and having a fusible section at the closed end of the tube electrically connected with the last-mentioned terminal member, said link extending from the open end of said tube and being loosely attached to said post, an arm pivotally mounted on the other of said terminal members, a spring normally tending to swing said arm toward said bracket, a second arm pivotally mounted on the first mentioned arm and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with said bracket, a spring normally tending to swing said second arm away from said bracket, and said second arm being adapted to be disengaged from said bracket by swinging the first mentioned arm away from said bracket.

LESTER C. HART. 

